By Adam Bate

Roberto Mancini's men need to start converting draws into Premier League victories and Adam Bate thinks they can do that - just - when they visit the Latics

Manchester City have been knocked back off the top of the Premier League following their failure to beat Chelsea at the weekend and that will be a source of frustration for Roberto Mancini.

The Premier League champions are unbeaten this season but draws will not do if they are to defend their crown and three points will be the target when they make the short trip to Wigan on Wednesday. City are 8/15 (1.53) with Marathon Bet to win against The Latics.

Roberto Martinez’s side have a knack for ruffling feathers and will be eyeing another scalp at the DW Stadium.

Morale will be high after Jordi Gomez’s hat-trick helped sink Reading at the weekend and they could be a tempting bet to inflict City’s first defeat of the league campaign at 29/5 (6.80) here.

The draw is available at 17/5 (4.40) with Marathon Bet and that price should be considered given that Mancini's men have drawn four of their six away games so far this season.

For those who fancy the Latics to make life difficult for their visitors but are not sure which way to go, the double chance market offers 41/25 (2.64) for Wigan not to lose in this one.

If that is going to happen then it seems likely they are going to have to score – and they are well capable of doing that.

Wigan have both scored and conceded in all six of their home games so far this season. That seems likely to continue here so the best bet is to back over 2.5 goals at 7/10 (1.70) with Marathon Bet.

For the value bet, look beyond the four draws City have had on their Premier League travels this season and focus instead on the two away wins – both ending 2-1 to Mancini’s men.

That is also the most common scoreline for Wigan both at home and overall in the current campaign and so it would be no surprise if City edge a close game by that margin here. The value option is to back City to win 2-1 at 7/1 (8.00) with Marathon Bet.